Railroad signaling system.



No. 704,347 Patented July 8, I902. A. W. KNEE.

RAILROAD SGNALING SYSTEM.

(Application filed Mar 7, 1902.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I;

(No Model.)

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A. W. KNEE.

RAILROAD SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Application filed Mar. 7. 1902.: (No Model.) 2 $heets$heet 2.

IN VEN T OR CA TTORNE Y.

UNrrED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALLISON \V. KNEE, OF SYRACUSE, NE\V YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO FRANK J. MANZ, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

RAILROAD SIGNALING SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 704,347, dated July 8, 1902. Application filed March '7, 1902. Serial No. 97,196. (No model.)

To (d7 whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALLISON W. KNEE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Railroad Signaling Systems, of which the following, taken in con nection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

10 This invention relates to an automatic electric signaling system which is designed for railways and intended to indicate to the locomotive-engineer of one train the approach or presence of another locomotive or train on the same track, thereby affording safety to traveling.

The invention is adapted to be either applied to the railwayin the form of a so-called block system or arranged so as to operate only upon the approach to or travel of a locomotive or train over those portions of the railway requiring extreme precaution, as at switches, tunnels, bridges, sharp curves, the.

The main object of this invention is to provide a signaling system which can be readily applied to a railway and shall be simple and inexpensive in its construction and at the same time shall be very eflicient in its operation.

To that end the invention consists, essentially, of a system arranged and constructed as follows: a locomotive or car equipped witha normally open electric circuit including suitable alarm devices, a pair of separate and 5 independent contact devices carried on said locomotive and disposed to travel over the road-bed of the railway, the track-rails connected to the electric circuit, means disposed on said road-bed in the path of said contact devices to automatically close the electric circuit, and thereby sound an alarm, and whereby the contact of two locomotives with said circuit-closing means forms a cross in the electric circuit of each locomotive to either 5 prevent or stop the sounding of the alarm.

The invention also consists in certain novel details of construction and arrangement of the component parts, as hereinafter fully described, and set forth in the claims. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section of a portion of a locomotive and a portion of a railway-track, illustrating my signaling system; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section on line X X in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a diagrammatic view of a portion of a railway, showing a plurality of locomotives to illustrate the invention as applied in the form of a block system; Fig. 4, a plan view of a portion of a track, showing the construction of the circuit-closing rail as used in said block system. Fig. 5 shows an arrangement of circuit-closing rails as used adjacent to tunnels and bridges, a tunnel being represented by dotted lines; and Fig. 6

illustrates the application of circuit-closing I rails adjacent to the railway-switches.

Referring to the drawings, A denotes a portion of a locomotive, Bthe truck-wheels thereof, and O the usual track-rails.

The locomotive is equipped with a nor- 7o mally open electric circuit having two batteries or sources (indicated at l and 2) and is arranged as follows: D represents a switchboard, which is intended to be suitably attached to the cab of the locomotive ina position whereby the engineer shall have convenient access to the apparatus on said switchboard, which apparatus Will be shortly described. To the said switchboard D are secured two pairs of main electric terminals (1 8o ctand b b, respectively. The positive pole of the battery 1 is connected by a wire 0 to the terminal a, and the negative pole of the battery 2 is connected by wire 0 to the terminal b. To said switchboard are also secured a pair of auxiliary terminals d d and a pair of switch-terminals e e, the terminal 6 having a wiref connected to it and leading to the negative pole of the battery 1 and the terminal 6 having a wire f connected to it and leading to the positive pole of the battery 2. From the terminal (1 of said auxiliary pair extends a wire g, which is connected to a metallic brush g or other suitable contact device which bears permanently 5 upon one of the axles E of the locomotivetruck. The other terminal 61' has one end of a wire h connected to it, the opposite end of which wireis connected to alever h, pivoted to said switchboard and adapted to make con- 10o tact with either of the aforesaid terminals 6 c, said contacts serving to cut out and in said batteries 1 and 2 reversely connected to the circuit, whereby the current will flow from only one battery or source at a time.

F and F represent a pair of metallic brushes, which are secured to a hanger G, pivoted to the locomotive or truck thereof, as indicated at 2', said hanger being sustained laterally yielding by means of coil-springs 2', extending from the lower portion of the hanger forwardly and rearwardly to the locomotive or truck. The attachment of said brushes to the hanger G is effectedby means of limbsjj, to which the brushes are respectively secured and which are disposed in insulated guides 7t, formed on the hanger, said limbs being sustained vertically adjustable in said guides by means ofset-screws ZZ.

The brush F is connected to the electric circuit by wire 70, which is attached at one end to a binding-post m on the upper end of the limb j and connected at its other end to the aforesaid switch-lever, as indicated at Z. The other brush F is connected to the electric circuit by a wire 91, which is connected at one end to a binding-post m on the upper end of the limbj and connected at its other end to one of the binding-posts n of the bell H. The other binding-post 0 of said bell is connected to the circuit bya wire 0, which extends to the aforesaid'electric terminals 1) and d, and from said terminal d to the terminal a extends a wire 19.

The aforesaid brushes may be of any suitable form and are disposed one in front of the other to travel over the road-bed of the railway, and being insulated apart the circuit is maintained normally open.

A" denotes a circuit-closing rail, which is disposed between and parallel to the trackrails O O and independent thereof and is arranged in the path of said brushes F F to make contact therewith.

B denotes a metallic arm, which is pivoted to theswitchboard D, as indicated at q, andis connected to the aforesaid switch-lever h by a bar or rod 1, by the said switch and arm are operated in unison. Said arm B is adapted to make connection with the main terminals Ct a and simultaneously cause the switch-lever h to make a connection with the terminal e, Whereby the electric current flows only from the battery 1, the other battery 2 being cut out by reason of the said lever 7t being out of contact with the terminal e, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Said arm B is also adapted to make connection between the other main terminals 12 6, whereby the current flows reversely from the battery 2, and by the movement of said arm to this position the switch-lever h is caused to be moved out of contact with the terminal 6 and into contact with the terminal 6 to cutout the battery 1 and cause the current to flow from the battery 2. The aforesaid auxiliary electric terminals (Z d are disposed to be connected by the said arm B for the purposeof forming a of insulating material, wherecross in the electric circuit, as hereinafter more fully described.

The invention as applied toarailway in the form of a block-signaling system is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 4 of the drawings and operates in the following manner: It is the intention that one battery or source shall be used on the locomotives moving in one direction and that the other battery orsource shall be used on locomotives moving in the opposite direction, as shown in Fig. 3. Therefore when two locomotives approach each other and their brushes F F are brought into contact with the circuit-closing rail A a cross is formed automatically in the electric circuit, whereby the bells on both locomotives are prevented from sounding. lVhen a locomotive moves singlyiover said circuit-closing rail,the alarm is sounded, therebyindicating safety. \Vhen a locomotive is brought to a stop, the pivoted metallic arm B on said locomotive is turned by the engineer in charge of the locomotive so as to make connection between the auxiliary terminals d d, forming a cross in the electric circuit, whereby the bell on another locomotive approaching from either direction will not sound when the brushes of said moving locomotive are brought into contact with the circuit-closing rail which is in contact with said standing locomotive. Therefore a collision will be prevented either at the front or rear.

The arrangement of the circuit-closing rail is illustrated in Fig. 4, and said rail consists of overlapping sections, which are insulated apart, as indicated at s. The extent to which said sections are overlapped is to be determined by the desired length of the so-called blocks.

It will be readily seen that after the pivoted arm B has been turned to form across, as aforesaid, and the standing locomotive is about to start the engineer thereon can readily signal another engineer, either in front or in the rear', on a locomotive which has been brought to a stop, owing to the locomotive standing on the track, by operating said arm so as to make contact either between the main terminals a a or the main terminals 1) b, as may be desired, which movement of the arm breaks the aforesaid cross and closes the electric circuit, thereby causing the bell to sound.

Referring to Fig. 5 of the drawings, which shows the arrangement of the circuit-closing rail as applied to the railway adjacent to tunnels, bridges, &c., A represents whatI term a main circuit-closing rail, which extends the entire length of the tunnel or bridge, which latter are indicated by dotted lines, and D D denote short sections of auxiliary circuit-closing rails, which are arranged the desired distance from the ends of said main circuit-closing rail.

The operation of the system in this latter application is as follows: As the locomotive approaches the tunnel or bridge the brushes F F are brought into contact with said auxiliary sections, whereby a preliminary alarm is sounded to notify the engineer of the approach, which is especially desirable at night, and when the locomotive reaches or nearly reaches the tunnel orbridge the said brushes are brought into contact with the main circuit -closing rail A, whereby another and prolonged alarm should be sounded to indicate safety of travel through said tunnel or over the bridge. In case another locomotive approaches or stands upon the track which is provided with a circuit-closing rail A a cross will be formed in the electric circuit between the track-rails and circuit-closing rail, whereby the bells of both locomotives will be prevented or stopped from sounding.

It will be understood that the arrangement just described is also adapted to be applied to those portions of the railwayhaving sharp curves, in which case the main circuit-closing rail A would extend the entire length of the curve and is not necessary to be shown.

Referring to Fig. 6 of the drawings, E E denote switch-rails, which extend from the main-track rails C and may be operated by any suitable or well-known means. A denotes the circuit-closing rail hereinbefore referred to and which is broken, so as not to interfere with the switch-rail E, and its sections connected by a wire t. WVhen a locomotive moving over the main track approaches the switch-rails E E and the main-track rails are unbroken-i. e. the switch being closedthe brushes coming in contact with the circuit-closing rail moving in either direction causes the alarm to be sounded in the manner hereinbefore described; but in case the said switch-rails are moved to break continuity of the main-track rails one of the maintrack rails is brought into contact with a metallic plate u, connected to and extending from said circuit-closing rail, thereby forming a cross in the electric circuit between said rails when a locomotive is moving over and has its brushes in contact with said circuitclosing rail, thus indicating to the engineer the dangerous condition of the main track.

WVhat I claim as my invention is- 1. An electric signaling system for railways constructed and arranged as follows: a locomotive or car equipped with a normally open electric circuit having two sources reversely connected thereto and including suitable alarm devices, means connected to the circuit for cutting out and in said sources whereby the current is used from only one source at a time for the purpose set forth, the track-rails suitably connected to the electric circuit, a pair of separate and independent metallic brushes or other contact devices also connected to the circuit and carried on said locomotive or car, said contact-brushes being disposed one in front of the other to travel over the road-bed of the railway, a circuit-closing rail disposed parallel to and between the track-rails and in the path of said contactbrushes to effect the sounding of the alarm, and means adapted to automatically form a cross in the electric circuit between said trackrails and the circuit-closing rail to either prevent or stop the sounding of the alarm.

2. An electric signaling system for railways constructed and arranged as follows: a locomotive or car equipped with a normally open circuit having two sources reversely connected thereto and including suitable alarm devices, a switch for cutting out and in said sources whereby the current is used from only one source at a time, a conductor connected to the circuit and provided with a brush or other device maintained permanently in contact with one of the axles or wheels of the locomotive or car, a pair of separate and independent metallic brushes or other contact devices connected to the electric circuit and carried on the locomotive or car, said contact-brushes being disposed one in front of the other to travel over the roadbed of the railway, a circuit-closingrail disposed along the railway parallel to and between the track-rails and disposed in the path of said contact-brushes to effect the sounding of the alarm, means along the railway adapted to automatically form a cross in the electric circuit for the purpose of either preventing or stopping the sounding of the alarm, and manually-operated means carried on the locomotive or car for forming said cross.

3. An electric signaling system constructed and arranged as follows: a locomotive or car equipped with a normally open electric circuit having two sources reversely connected thereto and including suitable alarm devices, a pair of electric terminals for the conductors extending from the respective sources, means adapted to connect either of said pairs, a switch for cutting out and in said sources whereby the current is used from only one source at a time, for the purpose set forth, the track-rails suitably connected to the electric circuit a pair of separate and independent metallic brushes or other contact devices connected with the circuit and carried on said locomotive or car, said contact-brushes being disposed one in front of the other to travel over the road-bed of the railway, a circuitclosing rail disposed parallel to and between the track-rails and in the path of said contact-brushes to effect the sounding of the alarm, and means for forming a cross in the electric circuit between said track-rails and circuit-closing rail to either prevent or stop the sounding of the alarm.

4. An electric signaling system constructed and arranged as follows: a locomotive or car being disposed one in front of the other to travel over the road-bed of the railway, a circuit-closing rail disposed parallel to and between the track-rails and in the path of said contact-brushes to effect the sounding of the alarm, and means for forming a cross in the electric circuit between said track-rails and vcircuit-closing rail to either prevent or stop the sounding of the alarm.

5. An electric signaling system constructed and arranged as follows: a locomotive or car, equipped with a normally open electric circuit having two sources reversely connected thereto and including, suitable alarm devices, a pair of main electric terminals for the conductors extending from the respective sources, a pivoted metallic arm adapted to connect either of said pairs of terminals, a switchlever suitably connected with the electric circuit and provided with a pair of terminals to which the respective sources are connected, said lever and latter terminals being so related as to permit the said sources to be cut out and in wherebycthe current is used from only one source at a time, for the purpose set forth, a pair of separate and independent metallic brushes or other contact devices connected to the circuit and carried on said 10- comotive or car, and disposed one in front of the other to travel over the road-bed of the railway, a circuit-closing rail disposed parallel to and between the track-rails, and in the path of said contact-brushes to effect the sounding of the alarm, and means for forming a cross in the electric circuit between said track-rails and circuit-closing rail to either prevent or stop the sounding of the alarm. V c

6. An electric signaling system constructed and arranged as follows: a locomotive or car equipped with a normally open electric circuit having two sources reversely connected thereto and including suitable alarm devices, a pair of main electric terminals for the conductors extending from the respective sources, a pivoted metallic arm adapted to connect either of said pairs of terminals, a suitablypivoted switch-lever provided with a pair of terminals to which the respective sources are connected, said lever and latter terminals being so related as to permit the said sources to be cut out and in whereby only one source is used at a time, a conductor permanently connecting said main terminals and one of the axles or wheels of the locomotive or car, a pair of separate and independent and metallic brushes or other contact devices connected to the electric circuit, and carried on said loco track-rails and circuit-closing rail to either prevent or stop the sounding of the alarm, and manually-operated means carried on said car ortlocomotive for forming said cross.

7. An electric signaling system constructed and arranged as follows: a locomotive or car equipped with a normally open electric circuit having two sources reversely connected thereto and including suitable alarm devices, a pair of main electric terminals for the conductors extending from the respective sources, a pivoted metallic arm adapted to connect either of said pairs of terminals, a suitable pivoted switch-lever provided with a pair of terminals to which the respective sources are connected, said lever and latter terminals being so related as to permit the said sources to be out out and in whereby only one source is used at a time, a conductor permanently connecting said main terminals and one of the axles or wheels of the locomotive or car, a pair of separate and independent metallic brushes or other contact devices connected to the electric circuit, and carried on said locomotive or car, said contact-brushes being disposed one in front of the other to travel over the roadbed of the railway a circuit-closing rail disposed parallel to and between the track-rails and in the path of said contact-brushes to effeet the sounding of the alarm, means along the railway-track adapted to automatically form a cross in the electric circuit between said track-rails and circuit-closing rail to either prevent or stop the sounding of the alarm, a pair of auxiliary electric terminals in the electric circuit, and connected respectively to the conductor leading to the axle or Wheel and to a conductor leading to one of said contact-brushes, said auxiliary terminals being disposed to be connected by the aforesaid pivoted arm whereby said cross may .be formed.

8. An electric signaling system constructed and arranged as follows: a locomotive or car equipped with a normally open electric circuit having two batteries or sets of batteries reversely connected thereto and including suitable alarm devices and provided with a switchboard, a pair of main electric terminals on'the switchboard for the conductors leading from respective batteries, a metallic arm pivoted to said switchboard and adapted to connect either of said pairs of terminals, a metallic switch-lever also pivoted to the switchboard and provided with a pair of electric terminals to which the respective batteries are connected, said lever beingadapted to move into contact with either of said latter terminals to cut out and cut in the batteries whereby only one battery is used at a time, an insulated bar or rod connecting the aforesaid pivoted arm and lever for operating said parts simultaneously, a conductor permanently connecting one of each pair of main terminals with one of the axles or wheels of the locomotive or car, a pair of metallic contact-brushes included in the electric circuit and connected respectively to the alarm de-' vices and aforesaid switch-lever, said brushes depending from the locomotive or car and disposed one in front of the other to travel over the road-bed of the railway, a circuitclosing rail disposed parallel to and between the track-rail and in the path of said contactbrushes to effect the sounding of the alarm, means along the railway adapted to automatically form a cross in the electric circuit between said track-rails and circuit-closing rail, to either prevent or stop the sounding of the alarm, a pair of auxiliary electric terminals in the circuit and secured to the switchboard, a conductor connecting one of said auxiliary terminals to the switch-lever and the other auxiliary terminal connected to the conductor leading to the axle or wheel, and both of the latter terminals being disposed to be connected by the aforesaid pivoted metallic arm whereby a cross may be formed in the electric circuit.

9. An electric block-signaling system for railways constructed and arranged as follows: a plurality of locomotives moving on the same track and each equipped with a normally open electric circuit having two sources reversely connected thereto and including suitable alarm devices, means on the locomotive for cutting out and in said sources to cause the current to flow from only one source at atime and to permit alocomotivemovingin onedirection to use a source connected reverse to that of a locomotive moving in the opposite direction, the track-rails being suitably connected to the electric circuit of both locomotives, a

pair of separate and independent metallic brushes carried on each locomotive and connected to the electric circuit thereof, and disposed one in front of the other to travel over the road-bed of the railway, a circuit-closing rail composed of overlapping sections insulated apart and disposed along the road-bed in the path of said contact devices to effect an alarm on a locomotive passing singly over a section of the circuit-closing railand whereby a cross is formed in the electric circuit of both locomotives traveling over said rail-section and moving in opposite directions, and thus the alarm on each locomotive is either prevented or stopped from sounding.

10. An electric block-signaling system for railways constructed and arranged'as follows: a plurality of locomotives moving on the same track and each equipped with a normally open electric circuit having two sources reversely connected thereto and including suitable alarm devices, a pair of electric terminals for the conductors leading from the respective sources, means adapted to connect either of said pairs, a switch for cutting out and in said sources to cause the current to flow from only one source at a time, and to permit a locomotive moving in one direction to use a source connected reverse to that of a locomotive moving in the opposite direction, the track-rails being suitably connected to the electric circuit of both locomotives, a pair of separate and independent metallic brushes carried on each locomotive and connected to the electric circuit thereof, and disposed one in front of the other to travel over the road-bed of the railway, a circuit-closing rail composed of overlapping sections insulated apart and disposed along the road-bed in the path of said contact devices to effect an alarm on a locomotive passing singly over a section of the circuit-closing rail, and whereby a cross is formed in the electric circuit of both locomotives traveling over said rail-section simultaneously, and thus the alarm on each locomotive is eitherprevented or stopped from sounding.

11. An electric block-signaling system for railways constructed and arranged as follows: aplurality of locomotives moving on the same track and each equipped with a normally open electric circuit having two sources reversely connected thereto and including suitable alarm devices, a pair of electric terminals for the conductors leading from the respective sources, a pivoted metallic arm adapted to connect either of said pairs, a switch operated by said arm and adapted to out out and in said sources to cause the current to flow from only one source at a time and to permit a locomotive moving in one direction to use a source connected reverse to that of a locomotive moving in the opposite direction, the track-rails being suitablyconnected to theelectric circuit of both locomotives, a pair of separate and independent metallic brushes carried on each locomotive and connected to the electric circuit thereof and disposed one in front of the other to travel over the road-bed of the railway, and a circuit-closing rail composed of overlapping sections insulated apart and disposed along the road-bed in the path of said contact-brushes to effect the sounding of an alarm on a locomotive passing singly over a section of the circuit-closing rail and whereby a cross is formed in the electric circuit of both locomotives traveling over said rail-section simub taneously, and thus the alarm on each locomotive is either prevented or stopped from sounding. 4

12. An electric block-signaling system for railways constructed and arranged as follows: a plurality of locomotives moving on the same track and each equipped with a normally open electric circuit having two sources reversely connected thereto and including suitable alarm devices, a pair of electric terminals for the conductors leading from the respective sources, a pivoted metallic arm adapted to connect either of said pairs of terminals, a switch operated by said arm, a second pair of terminals connected to the respective sources and disposed to be connected singly with the switch to cause the current to flow from only one source at a time and to permit a locomotive moving in one direction to use a source connected reverse to that of a locomotive moving in the opposite direction, the track-rails being suitably connected to the electric circuit of both locomotives, a pair of separate and independent metallic brushes carried on each locomotive and connected to the elecric circuit thereof and disposed one in front of the other to travel over the road-bed of the railway, a circuit-closing rail composed of overlapping sections insu lated apart and disposed along the road-bed in the path of said contact-brushes to effect an alarm on a locomotive passing singly over asection of the circuit-closing rail and whereby a cross is formed in the electric circuit of both locomotives traveling over said railsection simultaneously and thus the alarm on each locomotive is either prevented or stopped from sounding.

13. An electric block-signaling system constructed and arranged as follows: a plurality of locomotives moving on the same track and each equipped with a normally open electric circuit having two sources reversely connected thereto and including suitable alarm devices, apair of electric terminals for the conductors leading from the respective sources, a pivoted metallic arm adapted to connect either of said pairs of terminals, a switch-lever, an insulated bar or rod connecting said arm and switch-lever whereby said parts operate in unison, a second pair of terminals connected to the respective sources and disposed to separately make contact with said switch-lever to cause the current to flow from only onesource at atime and to permit a locomotive moving in one direction to use a source connected reverse to that of a locomotive moving in the opposite direction, a conductor on each locomotive permanently connecting the electric terminals thereon to one of the axles or wheels of the locomotive to include the track-rails in both electric circuits, a pair of metallic brushes carried separately and independently on each locomotive, each pair of contact-brushes being arranged one in front of the other and disposed to travel over the road-bed of the railway, and a circuit-closing rail composed of overlapping sections insulated apart and disposed along the road-bed in the path of said contact-brushes to efi'ect a sounding of an alarm on a locomotive passing-singly over a section of the circuit-closing rail and whereby a cross is formed in the electric circuit of both locomotives traveling over said rail-section simultaneously and thus the alarm on each locomotive is either prevented or stopped from soundin 14. An electric block-signaling system constructed and arranged as follows: a plurality of locomotives moving on the same track and each equipped with a normally open electric circuit having two sources reversely connected thereto and including suitable alarm devices, a pair of main electric terminals for the conductors leading from the respective sources, a pivoted metallic arm adapted to connect either of said'pairs of main terminals, a switch-lever, an insulated bar or rod connecting said arm and switch-lever whereby said partsoperate in unison, a second pair of terminals connected to the respective sources and disposed to separately make contactwith said switch-lever to cause the current to flow from only one source at a time and to permit a locomotive moving in one direction to use a source connected reverse to that of a locomotive moving in the opposite direction, a conductor on each locomotive permanently connecting the electric circuit thereon to one of the axles or wheels of the locomotive to include the track-rails in both electric circuits, a pair of metallic brushes carried separately and independently on each locomotive, each pair of contact-brushes being arranged one in front of the other and disposed to travel over the road-bed of the railway, a circuit-closing rail composed of overlapping sections insulated apart and disposed along the road-bed in the path of said contact-brushes to effect the sounding of the alarm on a. locomotive passing singly over a section of the circuitclosing'rail and whereby across is formed in the electric circuit of both locomotives traveling over said rail-section simultaneously and thus the alarm on each locomotive is either prevented or stopped from sounding, a pair of auxiliary terminals connected to the respective sources in the circuit of each locomotive, and disposed to be connected by the aforesaid pivoted metallic arm to form said cross.

J. J, LAASS, G. VAN Vonsr. 

